Watchman s time-recorder



3 Sheets Sheet 1..

(No Model.)

E. J. COLBY. WATGHMANS TIME RECORDER.

zg/.1. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

m munnllll lill 1H l Mm. k

N. Femm Pnmnuwgngmer, wsmingeun, n.1;

(Rommel.) a sheets-sheet 2.

E. J. COLBY.

WATGHMANS TIME RECORDER. No. 359,999. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

(No Model.)` 3 shets-sheet 3. E. J. GOLBY.

WATGEMANS TIME RECORDER.

Patented M31. 29, 1887..

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

' EDVARD J. COLBY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VwAToi-IMANS TIME-Ri-:eoaolaay SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 359,999, dated March 29, 1l 887.

Application filed January 13, 1886. Renewed February 7, 1587. Serial No. 226.807. (No model.)

T 0 @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. CoLBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of I1linois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Watehmens Electric Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clocks such as are used to indicate the course of a watchman over his stations by means of a needle which, when the circuit is closed by the watchman, punctures the rotating dial. Its objects are to provide means whereby the clock can be used for a varying number of stations, and whereby the watchman, in order to make the needle operate, must be at his station at a given time, and whereby he may move in either direction over his course. These objects I attain in the manner indicated by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan View of the clock open, with parts shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the eloek mechanism removed, showing the electro-magnets and the wires in the case. Fig. 3 is a view of the back of the clock with rear lid open and commutator exhibited. Fig. 4 is a diagram of stations and the eommutator in the center, showing the course of the wires when the machine is arranged for thirty-six stations. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views of the commutator. Fig. 8 is a section of the electro-magnet and pivoted armature and needle.

Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the figures.

A is the ease; B, the lid, having abrass mat, O, and a glass front, D; E, a stationary metal disk in front of the clock mechanism; F, a central rotating metal disk; G, a clamp over the disk F; II H, electro-magnets, either simple or compound, as the case may be. I is the ease-lock.

J .I are the hinged sides of the ease, arranged so as to be turned down when it is desired to have access to the interior of the clock.

y K and L are apertures, through which to have access to the interior of the clock for the purpose of regulating or stopping or starting it.

M is a paper dial which rests on the disk E, and is clamped to and rotates with the disk F.

This dial is held down, so as to receive the points oi the needles, by means of the mat C. It is divided into concentric rings, as shown, there being any desired number of them, and these are divided into time-spaces by radial lines. Each ring has twelve hour-spaces, and each is numbered, so that when six needles are used cach, if operated at the same time, will puncture its particular ring at the same timemark, the needles being distributed at suitable distances about the dial. This is done by placing the electro-magnets each with its needle secured to its armature about the dial, each magnet being set so as to bring its needle to the proper point, as shown in Fig. 2. I-Iere the eleetromagnets are arranged about the eommutator, and in Fig. l they are arranged in the same manner, and parts of them can be seen, while their needle-points are seen protruding through the dial, each in its own ring and all in the same hour-mark. I use six needles and arrange them at equal distances about the dial. The needles are shown protruding through the paper dial at o o, as if all had been operated rt the same time.

P I? are pins through the bottom ofthe case, which serve to form part of the circuits.

R is the rear lid of the case, and it carries the circuit-closers P' P', which connect with the wires from outside the case, and when the rear lid is closed bear upon the pins l? I), and thus close the connection with the wires within the case.

Sis the commutator, one side of which is seen in Fig. 2 and the other in Fig. 3.

T Tare the wires which pass-one i'rom each station-to a magnet, through the parts I and I), and thence to one plate of the commutator. In the gures only six of these wires are shown; but in the diagram six sets of six wires each are provided for, and one set of six wires is shown. This would necessitate more or" the parts I and P', and the magnets would then be compound, as indicated in the diagram. Each set of six stations has a series of wiresone from each station-through its magnet to one plate, although I have shown but one wire from each set after the iirst.

U is a wire from the battery to the clock. It is shown loose in Fig. 2, because the clock mechanism to which it is attached is removed.

IOC)

V is a wire from the battery to the stations. It is shown in the diagram as leading to a wire which forms a circuit about the stations in set one, though ofcourse it must connect with each station. At each station is a suitable device for closing the connection between the wire V and the wire T.

The commutator consists of a plate of insu` lating materiaL'S, having the groove S'z and apertures S10 Sm, through which the wires from within the case pass to the plates Y and Z, which are arranged in concentric circles on the opposite side of the plate S. The clock-stein passes through this plate and carries the trailing hand Z', which sweeps over the inner cirele of plates. It also carries the sleeve S3, which is rotated in the opposite direction by the mechanism S S5 SG ST, and carries the trailing arm or hand Y,which sweeps over the outer circle of plates. The operation of these parts is as follows: The clock-stem S" rotates in one direction, carrying the trail Z and rotating the pinion S". This pinion meshes with the gear S5, which is supported on the same shaft with the Wheel S". This wheel meshes with the idle-pinion S7, which in turn rotates the sleeve S8 by engaging its lower cogged end. This of course rotates the sleeve in the opposite direction from the stem, and consequently the trails are carried in opposite directions.

SJ isa cap, which, when the commuta'tor is out of use, can besubstituted for the trailing hands, and thus puts all the plates permanently into connection. The plates lying between the same radial lines are connected, as shown. The needle from the armature may pass up between the cores of the magnet, or at one side, as shown.

O is the needle; O O', the coils of the electro-magnet5 O2, the pivoted armature to which the needle is secured; Oi O, the cores of the same. In Eig. 8 the needle is shown passing up through the connecting-piece of the cores and between the coils. l

The trail or trailing hand, which moves over the metal plate in the connnutator, is secured to the stem of the clock justas the minute hand, or hand which makes the circuit in one hour, is secured in clocks as usually mounted. The commutator is, in fact, substituted for the dial and the trail for the minute-hand. The reverse trail is mounted and operated as shown. The clock mechanism is of any style. The dial, as shown in Fig. l, is made by striking o n the surface thereof a series of concentric circles, and then dividing these into time-spaces by a series of radial lines. Each space then becomes a time-space, and may be marked accordingly. Each circle has its own magnet and needle, as described 5 and in order to avoid the necessity of placing all the needles in the same radial line, and yet construct the dial so that all of the needles can commence to operate at the same hour, I place the needles in any convenient position, and then put the same hour-mark in the time-space directly above them all. By then carrying out the hour-marks in each circle the desired result is attained, as shown.

The operation of rnyinvcntion is as follows: The device is arranged for 'six watchmen and each has six stations. Onewirc from each station in each ofthe circuits of six stations runs through one and the same electro-magnet and thence to one plate of the commutator. From this it will be readily seen that the watchman working these stations must at a given time be at that particular station whose wire connects with the plate over which the trail ol' the commutator is passing. The commutatoi 'passes around in one hour, its hand being on each plate ten minutes. "When the circuit is closed by the watchman, the needle ol' the compound electro-magnet through which the wire passes punctures the rotating dial and shows what needle is used and what hour the circuit was closed. Each station has its particular time, and hence the station is indicated by thc time of the puncture. The same remarks apply to each set ol' six stations and each magnet. Now, if a less number ot' stations are to be used, the number ot' plates on the commutator could be varied. It the number ot' stations in each set olVl stations be different, the operation is the saine, butthe distance ol" time between the stations in each set would be different. lf onl y one alarm is to be given from each set of stations, as in case it is desired to use but one watchman for a time and have him go over the whole route, sounding but one alarm for each set of stations, the ring can be substituted for the hands and trails of the conimutator, and the plates be thus brought permanently into the circuit. The dial will then show the time at which each needle is used. The inner circle of eommntatorplates and the inner hand and trail are designed to permit the watchman to traverse his set ot'stationsin one direction, and then, after waiting half an hour, until the other trail reaches the station at which he has stopped, to pass over his stations in the reverse order. lt also permits him to follow one hand or trail until he reaches the other hand, when 11e can turn about and follow that. This permits him to keep an irregular beat, and a-t the saine time gives the proprietor the benelit ot' the connnutator to keep a record of the movements ol" the watchman.

The electro -magnets are such as are commonly employed for similar purposes, the needle being secured to the armature and slicking` up between the cores.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In an electric clock for watchinen, the combination of an insnlatingplate, a series of rings of independent metal plates secured thereon, a clock, and a trail which is moved over the plates by the mechanism of the clock.

2. The combination ot' a clock connected with the battery, a conimutator consisting of a disk of insulating material and a series of plates arranged in a circle thereon, each con- IOO IlO

Dpected'with the circuit, and a trail which is onnected with and rotated by the clock and passes over the plates.

3. A eolninutator consisting of a double series of plates arranged in concentric circles and secured to a disk 0f insulating,` material, and two trails which pass, respectively, over the circles of plates and are rotated in opposite directions from the saine center.

4. In a Watehmans electric clock, the comv bination of a series of electro-magnets, a rotating dial, and a commutator, as shown.

5. In a watchmans electric clock, the coinbination of a case, a clock mechanism connected with the battery, a series of electric magnets through which the Wires from the stations pass, and a commutator, as described, the Wires from the magnets passing one to each plate of the eonnnutator, Wliereby the circuit is alternately opened and closed at regular intervals, as described.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 2d day of lTanuary, A. D. 1885.

EDVYARD J. (DOLBY.

Witnesses: Y

FRANoIs W. PARKER., Cuirs. S. BUn'roy.4 

